Mini-Splits & Ductless AC Units, What Are They?
Mini-splits are a versatile new type of ductless HVAC system that can deliver effective air conditioning for your home and even provide heat during the winter as well. Most people choose them because they’re an effective choice for ductless air conditioning.
Unlike central air conditioning systems, you don’t need extensive ductwork running throughout your home to get effective cooling with mini splits. Even homes that already have ductwork could benefit from looking into this innovative AC option.
Mini-split air conditioning is both economically and environmentally sound, providing you with energy savings by running more efficiently. The benefits don’t stop there, with many other great features offered by ductless air conditioning.
How Does Ductless Air Conditioning Work?
Your mini-split system still relies on the fundamentals of air conditioning. Refrigerant is cycled between the interior and exterior units, carrying heat from your home outside. The exterior unit will be quite similar to those found in central air conditioning systems, with condenser coils that expel heat.
Zoned Cooling
The primary difference is inside your home. With a central air system, the air is cooled at a central location and blown through ductwork to regulate your home’s temperature. This can make keeping individual parts of your home at different temperatures difficult or impossible. Luckily, mini splits offer a better way.
With mini-split systems, the refrigerant that carries the heat must circulate between the interior and exterior units. It runs through narrow lines enclosed in a conduit that passes through an exterior wall. This conduit is typically no more than three inches in diameter, making installation easy and non-invasive.
Interior Units
The interior units of the mini-split system are installed directly into the rooms of your home. They’re often wall-mounted, with sleek designs that don’t draw too much attention and fans pushing cool air around the room, providing significant airflow and cooling.
Most homes will have multiple interior units, each providing cool air for a cooling zone. A cooling zone might be one or more rooms or even an entire floor for smaller houses. Having multiple units increases both efficiency and control over the temperature in your home.
Like any air conditioning system, mini splits also remove humidity from the air. Most models will have a designated mode to maximize dehumidification for muggy days. They’re also equipped with air filters that reduce the amount of dust and particles floating inside your home.
Who Are Mini-Split Systems Right For?
So why would someone choose mini splits over more conventional cooling systems? Well, the first point for most people is that they are a ductless air conditioning system.
If your home doesn’t already have ductwork from a furnace or other HVAC system, installing it for air conditioning can be excessive. Depending on the layout of your home, it might be completely impractical. Mini splits provide AC without the need for any ducts.
In some cases, mini splits can be the right choice, even if a home does have existing ductwork. When it comes time to replace the central air conditioning unit, carefully evaluating all the costs and savings might show that mini splits could be the better choice.
This is particularly true when people are renovating or expanding their homes. If you’re putting an addition on your house, your existing central air system may not be able to keep up with the increased demand. A mini-split system can provide cooling for the addition without the need to expand your central air system.
Some people use mini-split systems to provide both cooling and heating for certain areas of their homes. An attic or basement renovated to become a livable space could benefit from the compact convenience and quick installation of mini-split systems. They’re also perfect for garages, providing heating and cooling as needed.
What’s more, these systems offer superior efficiency, letting you save money on your cooling bill all summer long. AC efficiency is generally measured with the Season Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER). A higher rating means more efficiency.
A central air conditioning system can have a SEER of around 22 or so, but mini splits can reach over 30. Window-mounted air conditioners are even less efficient, making ductless AC the best choice for cooling individual zones within your home.
Reliable Mini-Split Installations
The expert team at Energy Pro Heating & Cooling can provide you with an efficient and durable ductless air conditioning installation. We’re here to serve professional HVAC services to the residents of Suffolk, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth, VA, so call today to book your appointment.